Indoor games that different ages can enjoy! Ideas for fun everyone can get excited about together

nervous breakdown

Reimi, who wrecked Concentration

A classic playing card game: Concentration (Memory).

Shuffle the cards and lay them face down on the table.

Flip over two cards; if the numbers match, you keep them.

The game ends when all cards have been turned over, and the player with the most cards wins.

It’s a simple game, but matches can be hard to find and it gets very exciting.

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utatane

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Red Light, Green Light

Mixed-age interaction: "Daruma-san ga koronda!" Yuri Class (4-year-olds) & Zou Class (2-year-olds) — Everyday life at Yahata Nursery School (Fukui City), March 2016

Let me introduce a traditional game called “Daruma-san ga Koronda,” a classic recreation where children of various ages can play together harmoniously.

First, choose one person to be “It” (the oni) and the others as players.

The oni stands at a fixed spot, covers their eyes, and chants “Daruma-san ga koronda.” When the chant ends, the oni turns to face everyone.

Anyone who moves at any time other than while the oni is chanting is out.

While the oni’s eyes are covered, players sneak closer, and if someone manages to touch the oni, the oni loses.

It’s a highly engaging group game that’s great for large numbers of players.

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kyc

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greengrocer’s shop

Kasama Tomobe Tomobe Kindergarten Childcare Information “Hand Play & Song Play Vol. 22: The Greengrocer’s Shop (Various Versions)”

This is a “learn while you play” activity that also helps children remember the names of various vegetables.

It’s best if the quizmaster is an adult or an older child in the upper grades.

The quizmaster says a series of names of vegetables in sequence, but intentionally slips in some items that aren’t vegetables.

The children compete to see if they can correctly respond with “O” for vegetables and “X” for non-vegetables.

For older kids, try including slightly tricky vegetable names like “parsley” or “arugula.” This “greengrocer’s shop” game could also be adapted for other themes, such as a “bakery shop”!

Seated tag

[Indoor Active Play] Have Fun with Seated Tag [Elementary School Kids]

“We can’t play outside because of the rain, but I still want to move my body as much as possible today!” In times like these, here’s a childcare-friendly game we recommend: “Seated Tag.” First, the children start in a seated position.

The rule is that they must keep their bottoms on the floor at all times.

Set a time limit, then play tag while staying seated.

Since it doesn’t involve running, it’s safe and fun to play indoors.

It also helps build leg strength as kids move using their legs and bottoms, so be sure to add it to your play repertoire!

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kepiko

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Come-here game

[Toddler Play] “Come here, come here” game — a play activity that even 3-year-olds can do!

Even though the rules are super simple, let’s try playing the “Come Here, Come Here Game,” which kids are guaranteed to love! Divide into a teacher and children.

The teacher gently beckons to the children, saying “Come here, come here.” While the teacher is saying it, the children move slowly toward the teacher without running.

When the teacher suddenly says, “Come here, come here…

It’s a ghost!” the children have to run away so they don’t get caught.

Once everyone gets used to it, you can make it even more exciting by faking them out with similar-sounding words to “ghost,” like “pot” or “mother.”